By Bryan Tjomsland
Re “UPCC Is Anti-Union, Should Be Stopped, LAUSD Teacher Letter Claims”
The upcoming Culver City School Board election for the first time includes three great candidates who enjoy the support of the United Parents of Culver City, a parents group intent on influencing CCUSD for the benefit of students.
I speak only for myself. But I observe that UPCC endorsements have predictably triggered attacks by those who are hostile toward this year-old group of involved parents.
Even the mighty United Teachers Los Angeles union is compelled to try to sway the election with an outrageous cross- border attack against UPCC.
In a recent letter, UTLA President Warren Fletcher squeals “A ‘parents union’ is out to take over the CCUSD School Board and put into place an anti-union agenda” and “Do not let the well-funded forces that unfairly target teacher unions win on November 5.”
Somebody should inform Warren that UPCC has never targeted or taken any action whatsoever attacking any teachers union. As a registered PAC, UPCC’s finances are public. I wish UPCC was well funded. He should research his own comments or support his assertion with facts.
UPCC’s detractors are primarily if not solely concerned with unions and political influence. They are threatened by parents who dare “organize.” Unions (organized labor) are objecting to parents organizing. I hope the hypocrisy is lost on no one.
It would be great if Culver City parents, voters, and, yes, school union supporters would take some time to honestly consider the validity and motivations of UPCC members and that of detractors who accuse the group of having mysterious funding and an “anti-union” agenda. I hope most people are wise enough to look into these accusations and invariably find nothing supporting them except a primitive fear of parents having influence where they have traditionally had none.
The roots of this divide are obvious since UPCC formed during last year’s particularly senseless union attack, by the Assn. of Classified Employees, on parent-funded adjuncts in Culver City schools. UPCC stood against it, very simply because it was not in the best interests of the kids. That’s what UPCC was formed to do, every time. Unions and their supporters, incredulous over this new form of resistance, have flung baseless accusations and innuendo, like the UTLA letter, ever since. These reflexive and ultimately self-destructive actions by unions and their supporters highlight a very real disconnect. That disconnect is between unions and the evolving relationship of involved parents and public schools. In short, union attacks on UPCC are stupid.
Here is why:
The fight over parent-funded adjuncts was one issue. When tested against the interests of students, the actions of the ACE union was on the wrong side of that one. However sadly, unions (even unions from other cities!) have chosen to villify their natural ally, namely parents. The reality is that there are many more issues where interests of teachers and school employees are the same as our children’s. In those cases, UPCC would predictably come down heavily on the union side. It’s that simple.
It is common sense. I don’t know of any parent who wants CCUSD teachers to be paid less than competitive wages. Obviously, we want our kids to have the best teachers. Just think about it. I want the schools to be safe, well-maintained, stimulating work places. I think CCUSD workers feel the same way. When real teachers and workers talk to me about UPCC, there is none of the venom and paranoia some union leadership is spewing. Again, maybe that leadership is out of touch and should look beyond paranoia.
Mr. Tjomsland may be contacted at stopsawtelletower@gmail.com
